Crested Butte plans to revamp winter flights

CRESTED BUTTE - Crested Butte is restructuring its direct flight program in an effort to better appeal to destination skiers.

The ski area operator and its partners from local governments, who levy a sales tax to subsidize transportation, had taken a heavy hit in revenue guarantees two years ago when airlines too frequently carried fewer passengers than is necessary to meet costs. The subsidized flights were primarily to Texas markets and also Denver.

This year, Crested Butte took a breather, offering fewer flights, but hopes to return next winter with a substantially revised program to a variety of new cities, including to Delta Airlines headquarters in Salt Lake City, and also Chicago, Atlanta, and other major markets.

Nearly $2 million will be offered to airlines, to ensure they don't lose money on the new flights. To make this possible, the ski area operator, Crested Butte Mountain resort, will pick up a large portion of the tab, $1.2 million, should the planes not fill to at least 75 percent of capacity.

"The whole point is to have direct flights from more markets," said Ken Stone, the president of Crested Butte Mountain resort, the ski area operator. He explained to the Crested Butte News that the ski area is hoping to get a greater percentage of destination visitors. "We're out of balance in our customer mix. It's susceptible to having ups and downs, and having an uneven business level throughout the season."

Some might wonder if airline seats shouldn't be offered in response to demand. Stone tells the newspaper that it works the other way around: you need airline seats from new markets to create demand.

At the same time, Crested Butte may cut short its winter flights. While the flights now continue into April, those flights lose enormous amounts of money, said Kent Myers, of Airplanners, a consulting firm. "We lose so much more in April it's silly," he said.

Crested Butte also expects to cut back its shuttles from Denver.



Proposed hut would offer extreme terrain

TAYLOR PASS - A backcountry ski hut designed to serve expert backcountry skiers is being proposed near Taylor Pass, in the area between Aspen and Crested Butte. The hut would be included in the Alfred Braun Hut System.

The hut would link the other Alfred Braun huts above Aspen and the Friends Hut, which is located closer to Crested Butte. But, reports the Crested Butte News, the hut is envisioned as a staging point for exceptional high country skiing. "It will serve an awful lot of wild snow," says Hawk Greenway, manger of the Braun huts.

Existing huts in the Braun system similarly accommodate 8 to 10 people, with privies out back and, similar to the newer huts of the 10th Mountain Division, are equipped with photovoltaic panels to provide minimal lighting.

The Crested Butte News reports mixed feelings about a new hut. While the increased numbers of people in the backcountry worry those who think it should remain a place of solitude, they also see backcountry visits as healthy for people.

Meanwhile, another backcountry hut is being proposed between Leadville and Vail that would serve the other end of the market, people with minimal skills and strength that want to enjoy the backcountry skiing experience. The hut would be close to Vance's Cabin, near Tennessee Pass. However, planning commissioners in Eagle County tabled the proposal, saying that the 10th Mountain Division had showed "want" but had not proven "need" for the hut.